Leominster 'picker' back in court for alleged assault of wife

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 8:00 AMMar 26, 2013 at 8:54 PM

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

LEOMINSTER - The day after his wife agreed to work with a court-appointed receiver to clean up their cluttered yard, self-styled junk picker Archille R. Plette Jr. was arrested and accused of assaulting her.

Mr. Plette was arraigned Monday in Leominster District Court on charges of assault and battery and witness intimidation. He allegedly abused his wife Friday night and Saturday morning, at one point placing her in a choke hold after becoming irate when she did not react when he hit her with a newspaper.

Patricia Plette called police Saturday morning after enduring abuse by her husband, who was apparently angry over her handling of a court case in Fitchburg Housing Court during the day Friday.

In court, Mrs. Plette agreed to have a receiver help her and her husband clean up their property around their home. She told the court her husband is not well, and snow and his health issues have made it difficult to comply with the Leominster Health Department's orders to clean up their property, which is covered with lawn movers, snow blowers, cars, boats, boat motors and other items in various states of repair.

Mr. Plette refers to himself as a picker. Health officials say he is a hoarder and his home is a safety and health hazard.

A $50,000 lien will also be placed on the Plette property until it is cleaned up. Mrs. Plette, speaking after the court hearing Friday, said her husband had a heart attack recently and seven strokes, which may have affected his cognitive abilities. She said he seemed confused the past six months.

On Friday night, after she returned from court, Mrs. Plette said, her husband pushed her several times and slapped her across the face, according to court records. On Saturday morning he hit her several times with a newspaper and then put her in a choke hold, the records said. She broke free, then he pushed her around and chased her outside, getting her car keys so she could not leave. She was able to call police, who came to the house and arrested him.

After his arraignment, Mr. Plette was released on personal recognizance to appear April 22 for a pretrial hearing.

Contact George Barnes at gbarnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG